East Front Street is expected to open for eastbound traffic from Railroad Avenue to Garfield Avenue starting next week, with a shift to the south side of the road to allow crews to work on the north side. The intersection of Garfield Avenue and East Front Street is also expected to open to northbound and southbound traffic next week, according to Tonya Wildfong of Team Elmer’s.

The exact day the road changes will happen next week is still being determined and is contingent on weather, Wildfong says."We have placed asphalt base course and leveling course," she says. "We have top course and striping remaining, weather permitting. Restoration will be ongoing as well." Once the road is ready, eastbound traffic will shift to the south side of East Front Street and will open up between Peninsula Drive and Garfield Avenue, meaning eastbound traffic will no longer have to take the Peninsula Drive-Eastern Avenue-Milliken Drive detour. Traffic will also be allowed to go north and south through the Garfield/East Front intersection.

Westbound traffic will remain detoured on Eighth Street through the duration of this segment, up until the National Cherry Festival. "We still have the north side of Front Street - Railroad through Gilbert - to remove, install underground, install curb, sidewalk, gravel, grade, pave, stripe, restore, et cetera, by Cherry Fest," Wildfong says. "We are on schedule so far."

Once the first segment is complete on East Front Street from Grandview Parkway to Garfield Avenue, crews will take a break for the National Cherry Festival. After the festival, work will begin on Grandview Parkway from East Front Street to Division Street. One eastbound and one westbound lane of traffic will be open on Grandview Parkway during that segment, which is expected to last until November. "Extra thanks to the owners in the corridor and the motoring public for their patience and grace during this process," Wildfong says.

Photo credit: Team Elmer's